DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45584#0088
36ο
Division II Section A Part 5
style outside of Syria, rather than in Syria itself where that decay was less obvious.
If all other evidence were wanting, the identification of this site as the city of Philippus
Arabs could be established by the inscriptions 1 found in the little temple-like structure
which I have called the Philippeion 3; for this building contained statues of the Arab
“Lord of the World”, and his son Philip who reigned with him, together with effigies
of the Empress Otacilia, of Marinus the Emperor’s father, of Priscus his brother, and
of other members of the imperal family. Judging by the form of the building it is
not impossible that this structure was intended to be a mausoleum of the distinguished
relations of the Emperor; but it is doubtful if the family, raised to so great dignity
during the five brief years of Philip’s reign (244-249 a. d.), were buried with royal
honours after his tragic end.
In the publications of the American Expedition 3 I endeavored to present a corpus,
as nearly complete as possible, of the monuments of Shehba; but the attempt was not
so successful as might be wished owing to the fact that excavations are necessary
before a complete study of the buildings can be made, and that many modern houses
must be torn down in order that parts of buildings now hidden may be revealed. A
plan of the city, drawn by Mr. Garrett, and plans and photographs of all the buildings
that were visible, are given in the publications mentioned above. Mr. Prentice 4 gives
a corpus of all the inscriptions that have been discovered in the ruins. Professor
Briinnow 5, besides quoting the observations of many writers on the subject of the city,
adds several plans and a very interesting collection of photographs.
119. SHAKKA (SAKKAZAj.
Ancient Sakkaia was a city of sufficient importance to have an era of its own
according to which all its inscriptions were dated. It possessed a “Basilica”, a “Palace”,
or public building of some kind, and a temple, probably before the end of the second
century after Christ. The first of these is now only partly preserved, but was in
excellent condition when published by M. de Vogue. The second is still in a good
state of preservation. The third exists only in fragments of large columns and entabla-
ture ; its site is not known. An inscription 6 implies that the city boasted also a theatre ·,
but no trace of this has been found. A building of the type designated by M. de Vogue
as Kalybe represents the later period of Pagan architecture in Shakka; but the church
seems to have found a home in the halls of the “Palace” and in the “Basilica.” A late
Christian monastery exists in ruins on the outskirts of the town. The “Palace”, the
“Basilica” and the “Kalybe” were admirably published in plans and drawings by M.
de Vogue7, and the same buildings are illustrated by photographs in the publications 8 of the
American Expedition. The modern village of Shakka is a small one, and the inhabitants
have preyed but little upon the ancient monuments. The destruction of the “Basilica”
was due in part, I should say, to natural causes. This building, with its transverse
system of quintuple arches, is a very important monument for the history of Christian
architecture in the Djebel Hauran, and the long hall of the “Palace”, or Kaisariyeh,
is of equal importance for the study of the origin of a large class of churches through-
out Southern Syria.
2 A.A.E.S. II, p. 380. 3 A. A. E. S. II, pp. 376-396.
5 P.A. Ill, pp. 145-179. 6 Wadd., 2136.
8 A.A.E.S. II, pp. 365-368, 37θ-375, 397-
1 A. A. E. S. Ill, inscs 396-400.
4 A. A. E. S. Ill, inscs 392-403.
7 5. C. Pls. 8-10, 15-16. 6.
Division II Section A Part 5
style outside of Syria, rather than in Syria itself where that decay was less obvious.
If all other evidence were wanting, the identification of this site as the city of Philippus
Arabs could be established by the inscriptions 1 found in the little temple-like structure
which I have called the Philippeion 3; for this building contained statues of the Arab
“Lord of the World”, and his son Philip who reigned with him, together with effigies
of the Empress Otacilia, of Marinus the Emperor’s father, of Priscus his brother, and
of other members of the imperal family. Judging by the form of the building it is
not impossible that this structure was intended to be a mausoleum of the distinguished
relations of the Emperor; but it is doubtful if the family, raised to so great dignity
during the five brief years of Philip’s reign (244-249 a. d.), were buried with royal
honours after his tragic end.
In the publications of the American Expedition 3 I endeavored to present a corpus,
as nearly complete as possible, of the monuments of Shehba; but the attempt was not
so successful as might be wished owing to the fact that excavations are necessary
before a complete study of the buildings can be made, and that many modern houses
must be torn down in order that parts of buildings now hidden may be revealed. A
plan of the city, drawn by Mr. Garrett, and plans and photographs of all the buildings
that were visible, are given in the publications mentioned above. Mr. Prentice 4 gives
a corpus of all the inscriptions that have been discovered in the ruins. Professor
Briinnow 5, besides quoting the observations of many writers on the subject of the city,
adds several plans and a very interesting collection of photographs.
119. SHAKKA (SAKKAZAj.
Ancient Sakkaia was a city of sufficient importance to have an era of its own
according to which all its inscriptions were dated. It possessed a “Basilica”, a “Palace”,
or public building of some kind, and a temple, probably before the end of the second
century after Christ. The first of these is now only partly preserved, but was in
excellent condition when published by M. de Vogue. The second is still in a good
state of preservation. The third exists only in fragments of large columns and entabla-
ture ; its site is not known. An inscription 6 implies that the city boasted also a theatre ·,
but no trace of this has been found. A building of the type designated by M. de Vogue
as Kalybe represents the later period of Pagan architecture in Shakka; but the church
seems to have found a home in the halls of the “Palace” and in the “Basilica.” A late
Christian monastery exists in ruins on the outskirts of the town. The “Palace”, the
“Basilica” and the “Kalybe” were admirably published in plans and drawings by M.
de Vogue7, and the same buildings are illustrated by photographs in the publications 8 of the
American Expedition. The modern village of Shakka is a small one, and the inhabitants
have preyed but little upon the ancient monuments. The destruction of the “Basilica”
was due in part, I should say, to natural causes. This building, with its transverse
system of quintuple arches, is a very important monument for the history of Christian
architecture in the Djebel Hauran, and the long hall of the “Palace”, or Kaisariyeh,
is of equal importance for the study of the origin of a large class of churches through-
out Southern Syria.
2 A.A.E.S. II, p. 380. 3 A. A. E. S. II, pp. 376-396.
5 P.A. Ill, pp. 145-179. 6 Wadd., 2136.
8 A.A.E.S. II, pp. 365-368, 37θ-375, 397-
1 A. A. E. S. Ill, inscs 396-400.
4 A. A. E. S. Ill, inscs 392-403.
7 5. C. Pls. 8-10, 15-16. 6.